Scyld Scefing is a fictional character in the epic poem Beowulf. He is a Danish king, progenitor of the legendary Danish royal lineage known as the Scyldings. He is the counterpart of the Skioldus or Skjöldr of Danish and Icelandic sources. In the opening lines of Beowulf, Scyld is called Scyld Scefing, which might mean Scyld descendant of Scef, Scyld son of Scef, or Scyld of the Sheaf; it's never explained. In any case, the story of a child in a boat, which elsewhere applies to Scef appl… (More on Scyld)